Wellby Super Drug
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Fate | Sold to Rite Aid |
| Headquarters | Scarborough, Maine |
| Products | Beauty products, drugs, snacks, beer, photo shop, movies, food and housewares. |
| Website | None |
Wellby Super Drug was a chain of 41 drug stores that operated in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont from 1973 until 1992. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Brothers, northern New England's largest grocer.
After the Maine State Legislature repealed the 'Blue Laws' prohibiting stores greater than 5,000 square feet (460 m2) in size to be open for business on Sunday, Hannaford made the decision to convert its smaller Shop 'N' Save grocery stores to Super Shop 'N' Save, which would include floor space for a pharmacy. Because the Shop 'N' Saves were in the same communities as Hannaford's Wellby stores, Hannaford decided to sell the pharmacy chain.
In 1992, Wellby Super Drug was sold to Rite Aid;[1][2] its successor in Maine, Walgreens, continues to operate in many of the former Wellby locations to this day.
In 2023, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[3] Despite Wellby shutting down 34 years prior to Rite Aid's bankruptcy filing, Wellby was still listed in the filing.[4]
On May 5, 2025, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in 2 years, listing assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion. Rite Aid will sell all of its assets as part of its procedure, as it overcomes financial challenges such as debt, increased competition, and inflation, including Wellby Super Drug.[5]
References
- ^ "Skowhegan's Bargain Hunter fills shopping needs, long-vacant storefront". Portland Press Herald. February 9, 2014. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
- ^ "Hannaford cutting management jobs after recent sale of drug store chain". Bangor Daily News. July 11, 1992. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
- ^ "Rite Aid files for bankruptcy". CNN. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "Wellby Super Drug Files For Bankruptcy". BKData. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ Knauth, Dietrich (May 5, 2025). "Rite Aid files for second bankruptcy in two years". Reuters. Retrieved May 5, 2025.